Columbia International University students rolled up their sleeves for a blood drive and hosted a picnic in the park as they demonstrated the love of Christ by getting involved in the Columbia area community.

Blood drives have been a regular occurrence through the years and the South Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross has taken notice. The chapter honored CIU with the “Most Improved” award at a banquet and ceremony in September.

Red Cross officials noted that in CIU’s last three blood drives (November 2012, April 2013, and September 2013) CIU averaged 42 units per drive.

“I’m really pleased with the way our students have supported our blood drives,” said Dr. Bryan Beyer, CIU dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “Each unit of blood donated can potentially save three lives, and our students have really stepped up.”

Beyer noted that only 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, and of that number, only about four percent actually give blood.

“That’s what makes every blood drive important,” Beyer said.

Meanwhile, CIU students hosted an outreach to residents in the Hyatt Park area of Columbia, just a few miles from campus. The students cooked hot dogs for the people in the neighborhood, played football with children and painted their faces, and some students brought Bibles and shared the gospel.